A new town for the motor age
And here it is - an artist's impression of a new town centre built in a valley around Randlay pool.
To quote: "It should be one of the more beautiful town centres in Britain. Parkland will be brought right up to it and for those living in high blocks of flats, there will be splendid views."
In this 50th anniversary year of Telford, it is a real vision - not of the future, but of the past.
Because this is how the town centre of Telford's predecessor, Dawley New Town, might have looked.
It would have been built in what later became Telford town park. If any similar plans were put forward today they would spark opposition and outrage from folk determined to protect the park.
The artist's impression was carried in the Shrewsbury Chronicle of January 22, 1965, when the town's master plan was unveiled.
Dawley New Town had been designated in 1963 and the reason its town centre was never built was because progress creating the new town was painfully slow, and it then became clear that the Government had something bigger in mind.
That something bigger was Telford New Town, designated in 1968. It greatly expanded the new town concept by roping in Wellington and Oakengates.
The town centre of Telford was created, not around Randlay pool, but at old Malinslee nearby, causing the destruction of the old community of Dark Lane. A Norman chapel at Malinslee which was in the way was luckier, being dismantled stone by stone and years later was re-erected in Telford town park.
According to the paper, Dawley New Town was a town designed for the motor age.
The town centre would not be at the physical centre but, so that it was a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes from any part of the town, would be close to a circuit motorway.
Forty acres was being allocated for a new hospital to be built.
As for the town centre, the paper reported: "The site - principal focus of activity for administration, principal shops, business, commerce and recreation - will allow the use of different natural levels for the segregation of vehicles from pedestrians.
"In order to hand the vast amount of traffic forecast by the Buchanan Report, and, at the same time separate vehicles from pedestrians, a compact solution is being planned so as to keep distances from car parks and bus station within reasonable limits.
"The problem is being tackled by a multi-storey business and commercial centre. Roads and service routes will be at levels below the main pedestrian concourse.
"Ready access for people and goods between the different levels will be provided by lifts, gently sloping ramps, and escalators.
"By this means people will be able to conduct their business or pleasure free from the dangers and fumes of motor traffic, but with the convenience of the car or bus nearby in a position to quickly join a smoothly moving flow of traffic out to a circuit motorway."
